The result was a 2-0 win for the second-seeded Ravens over the 10th-seeded Spartans in the Mercer County Tournament quarterfinals at Armstrong Park Monday. That puts the Ravens in Wednesday’s semifinal match-up against upstart Hightstown, which upset Ewing.

Robbinsville (19-3) got both its runs in the bottom of the fourth by utilizing small ball and taking advantage of an error. Up to that point, Steinert had left five runners on base – four in scoring position.

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“I told the girls if we can execute and move runners it wins game,” Ravens coach Niki Cognigni said. “So that’s what we did today.”

Robbinsville, which rallied for three eighth-inning runs to beat Steinert early in the season, opened the fourth with a single by winning pitcher Hannah Olshevski. Felicia Schumacher dropped a bunt that was bobbled by Steinert, putting runners on first and second.

Morgan Psiuk sacrificed the runners and Kaitlin Stahlbrand lined a single to right field to make it 1-0. After Gabby Manto walked, Julia Perhacs hit into a 1-2 force at home, but Sara Motusesky came up with a clutch, two-out RBI single to provide some insurance.

They became the first runs scored in over 20 innings against Steinert starter Jess Giordano, who came into the game with two straight shutouts. The senior had allowed two hits over the first three frames.

“I think once we all saw her the second time we kind of knew what she was throwing,” Olshevski said. “We were picking out one specific pitch to rip and it worked out very well.”

Cognigni felt at that point Robbinsville was in good shape considering the solid defense the Ravens play. Leftfielder Perhacs was a highlight reel with a running, over the shoulder catch and a sliding catch, while the infield made all the plays.

“We knew that it was going to be a tough game for us, but we knew if we executed and got the runners on and scored, that would kind of be the game,” Cognigni said. “Our last game against them went back and forth.

“We knew if we played defensively strong behind Hannah, even if they did get on base, as long as we played behind her well and produced the runs we could remain in the game and keep it going. Hannah did her job and defensively we made the plays behind her.”

Olshevski danced in and out of trouble at the game’s outset. Steinert had runners on first and third with two outs in the first before Olshevski got the red-hot Kaley Wise on a fly ball.

In the third, Tyler Valenza singled and got to second but Perhacs made her running catch on Megan Gallagher and Gaby Bennett bounced out. In the fourth, the Spartans put runners on second and third with two outs but a ground-out ended it.

In the final three innings, the Spartans got just one more runner on.

“I think they came out with a lot of momentum,” Olshevski said. “They wanted to score first. I think we did a good job of making the plays. After we scored the runs, the momentum kind of shifted and more things started working in my favor.

“I have a ton of confidence in my teammates. I definitely don’t strike everybody out so I need them to make the great plays that they do.”

By doing that and converting scoring chances, the Ravens are just one win from the finals.